Vastavam web: Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa-backed Joint Opposition today submitted a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, accusing him of financial mismanagement and failing to tackle anti-Muslim riots early this month in central Kandy district.The motion was handed over to Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, a spokesman for the Joint Opposition (JO) said.The motion calls for the removal of Wickremesinghe for appointing a non Sri Lankan as the governor of the Central Bank, allegedly protecting those responsible for the Central Bank Bond issues scam and failing in his duty as the law and order minister to tackle anti-Muslim riots early this month.

Wickremesinghe, 68, was recently replaced as law and order minister after clashes erupted in the central Kandy district.Despite the JO’s claim that some members of Wickremesinghe’s United National Party (UNP) would sign the motion, no member of the prime minister’s party signed the motion.Since Rajapaksa’s new party defeated the ruling coalition in the February 10 local council election, pressure has mounted on Wickremesinghe to resign.Sirisena is reportedly making overtures to Rajapaksa to join hands to sack Wickremesinghe.